Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 In office: (1865–1869) No Vice President President Andrew Johnson deserves a grade of D+ for his presidency. Johnson was too lenient on the defeated South, and was not willing to cooperate with Republicans in the North. His reconstruction program would have allowed the South to be readmitted to the Union without sufficient change in legislature. Overall he alienated Congress and failed to fill Lincoln’s shoes. Johnson’s main goal was to swiftly restore the South to the Union and to assimilate them with little struggle. Johnson was not willing to politically battle the South in an attempt to see social reform. With the Republicans controlling Congress, Johnson was not hesitant to let the secessionist Democrats return. Johnson’s reconstruction plan would have enabled this, if not for the overwhelming disagreement in Congress. Johnson set out to accomplish goals that were contrary to the desires of the American people. Andrew Johnson had a notoriously terrible relationship with Congress. Johnson was a War Democrat, who was never supposed to actually hold the office of presidency. After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson was thrown into a delicate period of southern reconstruction. His plans for reconstruction were at odds with those of Congress. Overall, Johnson vetoed 29 bills passed by Congress, including; the Civil Rights Act, the Freedmen’s Bureau Act and four Reconstruction Acts. 15 of Johnson’s vetoes were overridden by Congress. This portrays the extreme differences between the president and Congress. Johnson was viewed as an obstacle, continually blocking Republicans from making progress. The purchase of Alaska was definitely the most positive thing to come out of Johnson’s presidency. The Russians had already overextended themselves in North America and were looking to sell the “furred-out” Alaska. The Americans felt obligated to buy this piece of land because of the friendliness of Russia to the North during the Civil War. Secretary of State William Seward bought the land in 1867 for $7.2 million. As we know now, Alaska is a beautiful piece of land, abundant in natural resources. This decision was one of the only farsighted decisions proctored by Johnson during his presidency. The most negative action of Johnson’s presidency was his Reconstruction Act (1865). It called southern states to form constitutional conventions, and to draft new constitutions that would ratify the 13th amendment and repudiate war debts. This left a large amount freedom for the South to reconstruct itself. This led to the Black Codes, which essentially put the blacks back into bondage, and outraged the North. Fortunately, Republicans answered back with the Civil Rights Act which gave citizenship to blacks. If Congress had not intervened, blacks may never have actually gained their freedom. Reconstruction was undeniably the most important thing to come out of Johnson’s presidency. Congress had to assert its own legislature to ensure that the South would actually change as a result of the war. Although Congress played the larger role in reconstruction, it still was a byproduct of Johnson’s presidency. It caused a great deal of resentment in the South, as it empowered blacks, and destroyed the southerners’ feudal system. Reconstruction brought reform that totally changed society in the South. It also destroyed any Republican support in the South for almost 100 years. Of anything to come out of Johnson’s presidency, Reconstruction had longest lasting effect. Overall, the country was indeed better off at the end of Johnson’s term. Unfortunately for Johnson, the credit goes to Congress. Congress had to reunite the nation, and Johnson proved to be a hindrance every step of the way. Johnson was simply not the man meant to be in office, Lincoln was. Johnson was far too uncompromising, as well as too sympathetic towards the South. This is why Johnson deserves a D+ for his time in office. Degregorio, William A.. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents). 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print McCaslin, Richard B. "Johnson, Andrew." Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 2: 1816-1900. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 92-94. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. Severance, Ben H. "Reconstruction." Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 2: 1816-1900. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 141-144. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.
December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875
In office: (1865–1869)
No Vice President
President Andrew Johnson deserves a grade of D+ for his presidency. Johnson was too lenient on the defeated South, and was not willing to cooperate with Republicans in the North. His reconstruction program would have allowed the South to be readmitted to the Union without sufficient change in legislature. Overall he alienated Congress and failed to fill Lincoln’s shoes.
Johnson’s main goal was to swiftly restore the South to the Union and to assimilate them with little struggle. Johnson was not willing to politically battle the South in an attempt to see social reform. With the Republicans controlling Congress, Johnson was not hesitant to let the secessionist Democrats return. Johnson’s reconstruction plan would have enabled this, if not for the overwhelming disagreement in Congress. Johnson set out to accomplish goals that were contrary to the desires of the American people.
Andrew Johnson had a notoriously terrible relationship with Congress. Johnson was a War Democrat, who was never supposed to actually hold the office of presidency. After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson was thrown into a delicate period of southern reconstruction. His plans for reconstruction were at odds with those of Congress. Overall, Johnson vetoed 29 bills passed by Congress, including; the Civil Rights Act, the Freedmen’s Bureau Act and four Reconstruction Acts. 15 of Johnson’s vetoes were overridden by Congress. This portrays the extreme differences between the president and Congress. Johnson was viewed as an obstacle, continually blocking Republicans from making progress.
The purchase of Alaska was definitely the most positive thing to come out of Johnson’s presidency. The Russians had already overextended themselves in North America and were looking to sell the “furred-out” Alaska. The Americans felt obligated to buy this piece of land because of the friendliness of Russia to the North during the Civil War. Secretary of State William Seward bought the land in 1867 for $7.2 million. As we know now, Alaska is a beautiful piece of land, abundant in natural resources. This decision was one of the only farsighted decisions proctored by Johnson during his presidency. The most negative action of Johnson’s presidency was his Reconstruction Act (1865). It called southern states to form constitutional conventions, and to draft new constitutions that would ratify the 13th amendment and repudiate war debts. This left a large amount freedom for the South to reconstruct itself. This led to the Black Codes, which essentially put the blacks back into bondage, and outraged the North. Fortunately, Republicans answered back with the Civil Rights Act which gave citizenship to blacks. If Congress had not intervened, blacks may never have actually gained their freedom.
Reconstruction was undeniably the most important thing to come out of Johnson’s presidency. Congress had to assert its own legislature to ensure that the South would actually change as a result of the war. Although Congress played the larger role in reconstruction, it still was a byproduct of Johnson’s presidency. It caused a great deal of resentment in the South, as it empowered blacks, and destroyed the southerners’ feudal system. Reconstruction brought reform that totally changed society in the South. It also destroyed any Republican support in the South for almost 100 years. Of anything to come out of Johnson’s presidency, Reconstruction had longest lasting effect.
Overall, the country was indeed better off at the end of Johnson’s term. Unfortunately for Johnson, the credit goes to Congress. Congress had to reunite the nation, and Johnson proved to be a hindrance every step of the way. Johnson was simply not the man meant to be in office, Lincoln was. Johnson was far too uncompromising, as well as too sympathetic towards the South. This is why Johnson deserves a D+ for his time in office.
Degregorio, William A.. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents). 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print
McCaslin, Richard B. "Johnson, Andrew." Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 2: 1816-1900. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 92-94. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.
Severance, Ben H. "Reconstruction." Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 2: 1816-1900. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 141-144. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.